Before my recovery, my mental health was damaged by my experiences and a lifestyle that led to me growing up faster than I was originally planning on. Through my trauma of not having friends, to my family drama, it all led to my slow breaking point, but then everything seemed okay again. While going through recovery, I realised that I didn’t need to do things on my own, and I am still on a journey to understand that. Now I know that things take time and I don’t have to go through things on my own. While writing this story, it made me feel like I was a writing a diary that could help others learn from my experiences but also for me to reflect on my past and finally move on from it and look forward to the future.

What really made me change my life for the better and begin my recovery was the support I gained along the way. The reason I even asked for the support was because I took that first step, I came out of my comfort zone, and I confided in my teacher about my problems and feelings, from then on I wasn’t on my own anymore. My amazing friends have helped me in this journey by accepting me, and I gained more and more confidence in the things I got to be involved in. I’ve also went through many different support services such as CAMHS, relationship counselling, adult mental health services. Other ways in which I got help was teachers in school and university counselling. They all have had different ways of helping me and let me move on from my burdens. Of course not all experiences were positive, as sometimes I stumbled upon people that did not help me, but overall there were many wise people that have given and shared their advice and guidance with me.

My advice for any person who’s reading my book; I hope everything is going okay, and I believe in you. If you have come to read this book for some reassurance and perhaps some kind of sign, then take it, because I can assure you that you can get through this. Mental health is such a wide spectrum that affects so many people and we deal with it in our own way, but if you feel like you’re alone with it, then you cannot be far from the truth. There are so many people that are willing to be there for you and help you battle the challenges you face, which is what I learned. The fact I went and got help started the domino effect that became my life, from then on I moved on further up the mountain that I call my life, and someday I know I can reach the top, and I know I may stumble here and there as I am not an expert, but I know I’ll eventually get there and so will you. The experience of writing my story was very unique, because although there were some parts that I found hard to write, or unmotivating, I knew I needed to continue for the good of others but especially myself, because I knew if I didn’t face my demons then I’d never truly move on. This recovery story has really highlighted to me what I’ve achieved, as I’ve never been able to truly acknowledge it before. It was a journey on its own to write it, and there may have been ups and downs for me, but I’d recommend it to anyone who wishes to start their own recovery story. It’s truly so rewarding and it teaches you something and lets you move on. After the recovery story, you can continue to write your own journey and story of the amazing things you are doing to move forward in life.

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